The late James Gunn was emeritus professor of English at the University of Kansas and the author or editor of 45 books and 100+ short stories. A former president of both the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and the Science Fiction Research Association, he received their lifetime awards and induction into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. He lived in Lawrence, Kansas.

Chapter 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 Science: The New Accelerator Chapter 4 The New Accelerator-by H.G. Wells Chapter 5 The Literary Dissent Chapter 6 The Machine Stops-by E.M. Forster Chapter 7 Islands in the Sky, Or Romance Triumphant Chapter 8 FromUnder the Moons of Mars-by Edgar Rice Burroughs Chapter 9 More Things Under Heaven and Earth Chapter 10 The Moon Pool-by A. Merritt Chapter 11 The Call of the Fantastic Chapter 12 The Red One-by Jack London Chapter 13 The Horror Out of Providence Chapter 14 Dagon-by H.P. Lovecraft Chapter 15 The Science-Fiction Magazine Begins Its Amazing Career Chapter 16 The Tissue-Culture King-by Julian Huxley Chapter 17 Pedestrian Words, Soaring Concepts Chapter 18 The Revolt of the Pedestrians-by David H. Keller, M.D. Chapter 19 The Philosopher of Time and Space Chapter 20 FromLast and First Men-by Olaf Stapledon Chapter 21 Ford's in His Flivver Chapter 22 FromBrave New World-by Aldous Huxley Chapter 23 The Alien from Milwaukee Chapter 24 A Martian Odyssey-by Stanley G. Weinbaum Chapter 25 Who Went There Chapter 26 Twilight-by John W. Campbell Chapter 27 The Idea Machine Chapter 28 Proxima Centauri-by Murray Leinster Chapter 29 The World-Wrecker on Mars Chapter 30 What's It Like Out There?-by Edmond Hamilton Chapter 31 The Legion of Science Fiction Chapter 32 With Folded Hands-by Jack Williamson Chapter 33 Mission of Levity Chapter 34 Hyperpilosity-by L. Sprague de Camp Chapter 35 The Alchemists Gather Chapter 36 The Faithful-by Lester del Rey Chapter 37 The Fairy Tales of Science Chapter 38 Black Destroyer-by A.E. van Vogt Chapter 39 The Stars Appear Chapter 40 Nightfall-by Isaac Asimov Chapter 41 The Man Who Sold the Genre Chapter 42 Requiem-by Robert A. Heinlein Chapter 43 A chronology of Science Fiction Chapter 44 About the Editor